"Red Sneaker" puts fresh twist on chamber music

In their first concert of 2010, the chamber music ensemble Red Sneaker will present traditional chamber music in a decidedly un-traditional format. Wearing their trademark red Converse sneakers, these virtuoso musicians will perform Haydn's String Quartet in D, "The Lark"; Beethoven's String Quartet Opus 18, No. 1 in F major; and Dvorák's String Quartet No. 12 in F major, "America," interspersed with readings of letters by Beethoven and other composers. Join Red Sneaker and guest actors on this exploration of composers' letters and their music.

The concert is part of the Glenn and Viola Walters Cultural Arts Center's concert series. Carl Annala at the Walters Center has worked closely with Tylor Neist, a Hillsboro resident who leads the Red Sneaker quartet. Five of the eight concerts in this season's schedule will feature the Red Sneaker ensemble.

Neist, who also performs with the Oregon Symphony, founded Red Sneaker to help break chamber music "out of the box" and explore fresh ways to bring it to audiences.

The concert starts at 8 p.m. Friday in the Walters Cultural Arts Center, 527 E. Main St. Tickets are $15 in advance or $17 on the day of the concert. To order tickets, contact the Walters Center at 503-615-3485.